Approximate Optimization of Low-Thrust Transfers Between Low-Eccentricity Close Orbits

摘要

An approximate method for the evaluation of low-thrust transfers between close, low-eccentricity orbits has been presented and thoroughly tested. The method is based on Edelbaum's analysis and exploits an approximate control law that allows for an analytical integration of the relevant differential equations. Numerical integration is therefore not required, and the evaluation of the transfer costs is orders of magnitude faster with respect to the classical optimization method and more precise with respect to the original Edelbaum analysis when short transfers are considered. The method could therefore be very useful when a large number of transfer opportunities must be computed and compared to each other.